Magnolia Regional Health Center a Multi-Specialty Hospital in Corinth, MS

During May 10–16, Magnolia Regional Health Center proudly celebrated Hospital Week by honoring the incredible employees who make our mission possible every day. Throughout the week, team members enjoyed special events and tokens of appreciation including employee gifts and ice cream, smoothies, a catered lunch, recognition events, and MRHC swag goodie bags.

Hospital Week is a time to recognize the dedication, compassion, and excellence our employees bring to patients, families, and one another. We are grateful for every member of the MRHC family and the important role they play in caring for our community.

Employee Recognition Dinner & Awards

One of the highlights of the week was our Employee Recognition Dinner, where we celebrated years of service milestones and recognized employees and departments for outstanding achievements and leadership.

Years of Service Awards

Special Recognition Awards

At Magnolia Regional Health Center, our employees are the heart of everything we do. Their commitment to compassionate care, teamwork, innovation, and service excellence continues to make a difference in the lives of our patients and community every day.

Magnolia Regional Health Center is pleased to announce that Sophia P. Thang, DO will be joining Magnolia Heart & Lung Clinic as an interventional cardiologist beginning this August, following the completion of her advanced fellowship training.

Dr. Thang’s upcoming arrival represents an important expansion of specialized cardiovascular services available to patients in Corinth and the surrounding region, bringing advanced interventional expertise closer to home.

Dr. Thang is a medical school graduate of Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She also holds both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Magnolia Regional Health Center, where she first began her postgraduate medical training. She then continued at MRHC to complete her Cardiology Fellowship, gaining comprehensive experience in cardiovascular care before pursuing subspecialty training in Interventional Cardiology.

She is currently completing her Interventional Cardiology fellowship at the prestigious Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York City, a world-leading cardiovascular center and one of the nation’s top training programs.

Upon completion of her fellowship, Dr. Thang will return to Corinth to join her husband, interventional cardiologist Paul M. Volansky, DO, FACC, and Nurse Practitioner Kim Marlar, CNP at Magnolia Heart & Lung Clinic.

Dr. Thang specializes in plaque modification and complex interventions, offering advanced treatment options that are not commonly available in many smaller communities. Her expertise will allow patients in the region to access highly specialized cardiovascular care without the need to travel to larger metropolitan centers.

In addition to her procedural expertise, she provides comprehensive care for a wide range of heart and vascular conditions through advanced diagnostics, treatment, and long-term cardiovascular management.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Thang back to Magnolia Regional Health Center,” said MRHC Cardiovascular Surgeon and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jim Gilmore. “Her advanced training and commitment to patient care will significantly enhance the level of cardiovascular services available to our community.”

Patients may begin scheduling appointments with Dr. Thang now for visits starting in August.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Magnolia Heart & Lung Clinic at 662-287-5218 or visit www.MRHC.org.

Magnolia Regional Health Center’s Emergency Medicine Residency program has earned international recognition after winning the prestigious Kevin Rogers World Cup at the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) Games, held April 12 in Seattle, Washington.

Competing against leading emergency medicine programs from around the world—including teams traveling from as far as India—the Magnolia Regional team distinguished itself through a combination of clinical knowledge, teamwork, and performance under pressure.

The four-member team, competing under the name “Sweet Tea And Ketamine,” included residents Corey Abdeen, DO (PGY-3), Jeff Johnson, DO (PGY-2), and Jay Patel, DO (PGY-1), under the mentorship of faculty advisor Alex Hampton, MD, FAAEM.

The competition began with a rapid-paced emergency medicine knowledge round, where teams were required to complete a 40-question exam in just 10 minutes. Magnolia Regional advanced into the Top 8 and was placed into the simulation bracket, where participants are evaluated on real-time clinical decision-making in high-acuity scenarios.

In the simulation rounds, the Magnolia Regional team defeated Lakeland Regional before advancing to the Final Four, where they overcame defending champions Florida State University. In the championship round, they faced New York University’s team—winners of the ultrasound competition—and secured the overall victory to claim the international title.

“This team demonstrated exceptional composure, clinical reasoning, and teamwork at every stage of the competition,” said Dr. Alex Hampton, faculty mentor. “Watching them compete against top programs from around the world and come out on top was an incredible moment and a testament to their hard work and preparation.”

In addition to the team’s championship win, MRHC EM residents also earned national recognition in the AAEM Poster Competition.

Samantha Castillo, DO (PGY-3), was selected as a Top Poster presenter—ranking among the top 12 in the nation—for her project titled “May-Thurner Who?” Jay Patel, DO (PGY-1), also had a poster accepted for presentation, titled “Saved By The Bell’s Palsy.”

Hospital leadership noted that these accomplishments underscore the growing reputation of Magnolia Regional Health Center’s residency program on a national and international stage.

Wendy Hurley, Administrative Director of Graduate Medical Education, highlighted the significance of the achievement for both the institution and the community.

“This is a proud moment for our institution and our community,” Hurley said. “Our residents are not only excelling in competition but are also contributing to the advancement of emergency medicine through research and academic achievement.”

Magnolia Regional Health Center continues to expand its role in graduate medical education, with a focus on excellence in patient care, innovation, and physician training.

Magnolia Regional Health Center is pleased to announce that a member of our Cardiology team will be present at the Coke 10K Race on Saturday, May 2, in downtown Corinth, providing blood pressure and pulse checks for attendees.

In addition to these screenings, visitors are invited to stop by our information table, where we will be sharing valuable resources on early heart attack care, hands-only CPR, maintaining a healthy diet, and smoking cessation.

This is a great opportunity to take a proactive step toward better heart health and learn simple, life-saving techniques. We look forward to seeing you there!

A team at Magnolia Regional Health Center is helping lead the way in improving patient care beyond the hospital through innovative research on medication adherence.

Led by Hospitalist Director Ben Long, MD, alongside MRHC team members Rebekah McPheters and Steven Burton, the study explored how SMS text message reminders can help patients with congestive heart failure stay on track with their medications after discharge.

In collaboration with DrFirst, the team addressed a widespread issue in healthcare: approximately one in five prescriptions are never filled following hospitalization, and nearly half are left at the pharmacy.

Over the course of the study, the team analyzed outcomes across two phases—a 2.5-year pre-intervention period with no messaging, followed by a 2.5-year post-intervention period where patients received SMS reminders. These messages not only encouraged patients to pick up their prescriptions but also provided education about the importance of their medications.

The results showed meaningful improvements. Patients who engaged with the SMS messages saw prescription fill rates increase by 19% or more, along with a 6% reduction in the likelihood of hospital readmission. Overall engagement reached 90%, an especially notable achievement given the average patient age of 76.

“This study highlights how small, accessible interventions can make a meaningful difference in patient health,” said Dr. Long. “Our goal at MRHC is to provide the best care possible—not just while patients are in our hospital, but as they transition home.”

The simplicity of the intervention was key to its success. The SMS reminders required no sign-up or additional steps for patients, and no added burden for providers, making it an easy and scalable solution.

“This was truly a team effort,” Dr. Long added. “Working alongside Rebekah McPheters and Steven Burton, and in partnership with DrFirst, allowed us to better understand how we can reach patients in a simple but impactful way.”

Dr. Long recently presented the team’s findings at a medical conference in Las Vegas, highlighting how this approach can be adopted by hospitals across the country to improve patient outcomes.

This study showcases the innovation and dedication of MRHC providers and staff, demonstrating how thoughtful use of technology can lead to better outcomes and healthier communities.